Jerusalem has had powerful kings ruling over the whole of Trans-Euphrates, and taxes, tribute and duty were paid to them. – Ezra 4:20

Today’s Scripture Reading (June 13, 2014): Ezra 4

In 1919, British Economist John Maynard Keynes published his book entitled “The Economic Consequences of the Peace.” The book evaluated what Keynes believed to be the cost of the “Treaty of Versailles” between Germany and the Allied powers of France, Britain and the United States at the close of the First World War. Keynes had attended the Versailles Conference as a member of the British Treasury. Keynes himself had argued for a much more generous peace than the treaty had provided. He blamed France for the Treaty as it was presented, but he also understood the problem. France had suffered the most during the war – both in the amount of damage inflicted on the country as well as the suffering the heaviest human losses. French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau best described Frances position – “America is far away, protected by the ocean. Not even Napoleon himself could touch England. You are both sheltered; we are not.” France needed the Treaty to be their protection from Germany.

So France demanded steep reparations and military restriction to be placed on the German people. It was the opposite of what Keynes had thought should happen. Keynes had suggested no or minimal reparations, a forgiveness of war debts, and for the United States to launch a vast credit program aimed at the restoration of the European economy. But Keynes lost the argument, and as a result Germany was severely restricted economically and militarily. The hope was that the Treaty would remove Germany’s ability to ever wage another World War.

As the complaints came in with regard to Jerusalem, the charge was that Judah had been a rebellious nation. The charge was based on Israel’s dominance of the known world during the reigns of David and Solomon. They were the ones who had ruled over the Middle East and at one point in time, the taxes that were now being paid to Persia had been paid to Israel. And the fear that was raised was that if Jerusalem was allowed to rebuild, that they would rule once again and the taxes that were now being paid to Persia would be diverted to the restored State of Israel.

It should be noted that the while the Temple had most likely not been completed at this point in time, this complaint was more about the restoration of the walls of Jerusalem than anything else. And Persia understood the fear, and at least for a time stopped the rebuilding of the city of Jerusalem. The hoped for result was that the limits placed on Israel would keep Judah in a subservient position.

Unfortunately for France and the known world, the historical evaluation of the Treaty of Versailles was that it was a failure. In fact, rather than stopping Germany from being able to wage war again, the Treaty provided the fertile ground from which Hitler and the Nazi party could once again grow – and the rebellion against the Treaty would once again allow the world to spiral into war.    

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Haggai 1